SMC Networks SMC8150L2 manual Displaying 802.1X Global Settings

1. Client attempts to access a switch port.

2. Switch sends client an identity request.

3. Client sends back identity information.

4. Switch forwards this to authentication server.

5. Authentication server challenges client.

6. Client responds with proper credentials.

7. Authentication server approves access.

8. Switch grants client access to this port.

RADIUS server

802.1x client

User Authentication 3

This switch uses the Extensible Authentication Protocol over LANs (EAPOL) to exchange authentication

protocol messages with the client, and a remote RADIUS authentication server to verify

user identity and access rights. When a client (i.e., Supplicant) connects to a switch port, the switch (i.e.,

Authenticator) responds with an EAPOL identity request. The client provides its identity (such as a user name) in an EAPOL response to the switch, which it forwards to the RADIUS server. The RADIUS server verifies the client identity and sends an access challenge back to the client. The EAP packet from the RADIUS server contains not only the challenge, but the authentication method to be used. The client can reject the authentication method and request another, depending on the configuration of the client software and the RADIUS server. The authentication method must be MD5. The client responds to the appropriate method with its credentials, such as a password or certificate. The RADIUS server verifies the client credentials and responds with an accept or reject packet. If authentication is successful, the switch allows the client to access the network. Otherwise, network access is denied and the port remains blocked.

The operation of 802.1X on the switch requires the following:

•The switch must have an IP address assigned.

•RADIUS authentication must be enabled on the switch and the IP address of the RADIUS server specified.

•802.1X must be enabled globally for the switch.

•Each switch port that will be used must be set to dot1X “Auto” mode.

•Each client that needs to be authenticated must have dot1X client software installed and properly configured.

•The RADIUS server and 802.1X client support EAP. (The switch only supports EAPOL in order to pass the EAP packets from the server to the client.)

•The RADIUS server and client also have to support the same EAP authentication type – MD5. (Some clients have native support in Windows, otherwise the dot1x client must support it.)

Displaying 802.1X Global Settings

The 802.1X protocol provides client authentication.

Command Attributes

•802.1X System Authentication Control – The global setting for 802.1X.

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